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Author Topic: Smart Car  (Read 44667 times)

Ziggy

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« Reply #20 on: September 29, 2004, 11:12:00 am »
Johngenx, have you seen/driven the smarts at David Morris MB yet?  I drove by the dealership yesterday and saw a couple sitting outside.  The wife loved them and wanted to go for a test spin.  They do look great, are very practical, and I am secure with my masculinity and would not have a problem driving a smart around town.
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Offline safristi

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« Reply #21 on: September 29, 2004, 11:19:40 am »
Ziggy where do you secure your masculinity in a Smart car..the glove BOX..just askin'
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Ziggy

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« Reply #22 on: September 29, 2004, 11:34:40 am »
The BOOTy has the extra room that I would require.  The bonnet is too small.
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Awebber

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« Reply #23 on: September 29, 2004, 01:25:58 pm »
I figure I'd get the Cabriolet and let my masculinity blow in the wind.

=aw
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Offline johngenx

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« Reply #24 on: September 29, 2004, 03:48:49 pm »
Johngenx, have you seen/driven the smarts at David Morris MB yet?

They won't let me on the lot without filling out a credit app.
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Ziggy

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« Reply #25 on: September 29, 2004, 03:54:14 pm »
They need a credit app for looking at an $18K smart?  That is not going to help the sales numbers.
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Offline johngenx

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« Reply #26 on: September 29, 2004, 05:13:18 pm »
Back in 1997 when I bought my C230, Ken Lust, the salesmanager at DM greeted me at the door when I was shopping for a new car.  He handed me a credit app and asked that I come back with it filled out, and if I passed "muster" then I would be allowed to discuss buying a new car from them.

Needless to say, I did not buy my car from them.

In fact, I was treated poorly at both Weber and DM, and bought my car in Calgary at Hyatt.  I wonder how Ken is going to make out selling $20K new cars?  Perhaps the "great unwashed masses" are not interested in the Smart anyway?

David Morris is the guy that invented some heart-lung valve machine thing and make some $500K cash a year from that patent alone.  Also, David's family has buckets of moolah.

He has the dealership 'cause he's an MB nut, not because he cares if it makes money.  It shows.  They treat you bad unless you're a pro athlete.
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Offline ovr50

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« Reply #27 on: October 01, 2004, 06:50:28 pm »
SMART car - saw my first one on the road licensed with a non-dealer plate, so I assume it's sold/privately owned already. Red and silver. I saw it coming directly toward me and I couldn't believe at first how narrow it is. Then it turned and went broadside to me. To my eyes, it looked like a very pregnant skateboard. It is narrow and tall, looks like it would tip over in a good wind. Not to my personal liking and I CERTAINLY would buy a Echo Hatch for same/less money. I think it's a trend/fad. Blah !!! This is OPINION purely and not based in any way on fact - just my impression.
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Offline random006

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« Reply #28 on: October 01, 2004, 07:16:21 pm »
Have to disagree with you Ovr.

I think that they will sell well in select parts of the country.  I believe that they will do very well here in Montreal.  There is a strong desire for small cars in this city.  The number of Echo's, Minis, Miatas, VW Beetles and others seem to indicate this.  Furthermore, I've seen more Minis recently than I have Echos, which would indicate a desire for more than the merely practical.

Maybe it won't sell as well as the Echo, no argument from me on that.  However it will take a permanent place at the table so to speak and it won't be limited to the few who simply HAVE to have the latest.

IMHO of course.  
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Mdxtasy

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« Reply #29 on: October 01, 2004, 09:22:46 pm »
Saw one at the Henry Singer store in Calgary.  Lots of interest.  Black and silver I think it was.  Neat little cars but not for what I think they are asking for it.
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Offline ovr50

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« Reply #30 on: October 01, 2004, 11:02:18 pm »
I saw another one about 2 hours after the red/silver one. This one was all black and that looked better than the red/silver combo. Must have been a truck-load of them come in last day or so.

I know they will sell well in lots of larger urban centres and Montreal could well be a large market for the Smart. I don't dispute they will sell. I'm just saying that I don't like their looks and, for same money, I would drive an Echo Hatch (pretty hotted up one for the money the Smarts sell for). Just my preferences.
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X_ouch

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« Reply #31 on: October 01, 2004, 11:14:30 pm »
oh a fellow Montrealer ;)  

Even if it's a huge market for small cars in Montreal, I don't think that this Smart will have a big impact on the auto maket here.  

When I discuss this with people most of the time, the most common question arised is "How do you drive that in the snow?"

I still dont know how to refute that!
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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« Reply #32 on: October 02, 2004, 02:06:57 pm »

Montreal will be the biggest market for it. Echo hatch is absolutely unreal in Montreal - still cannot get over it. You'd have to go there to believe it. Am I emphasizing this enough??? Even in Toronto you don't see 1/10th the number of them.

The Smart is priced $1,800-$2,000 too high. Including A/C in the price would go a long way. The convertible might have more appeal than the coupe at that price. I think the car will remain popular with commuters - nothing else gets 84mph! And sitting in traffic, all you care about is mileage, good seats, decent radio, room, and reliability. 4-out-of-5 ain't bad.  

I like the way they look, save the cheapy plastics in the interior. Has been on the local news a lot lately, and word has gotten out I put a deposit on one at work. The general public over here are really just learning about it now. Will have to take a test drive first for kicks, but I'm about 90% sure I won't be buying one at that price. Sales will spike early and dwindle, and I'm sure Benz won't have low financing rates on them - they'll simply import less till the ForFours and ForMore come over.  

They sold 163 I believe in Sept. Surprising since the official on-sale date was to be Oct 4th and the boat didn't hit port till late last week. I'm not particularly fond of snobby German dealerships, but have found Smart retailer in west Toronto that was decent thus far. It'll be interesting to see how she flies in the months to come.    

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Awebber

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« Reply #33 on: October 03, 2004, 03:30:24 pm »
GF thinks the fortwo is dumb looking and too small.  But the forfour and the roadster are more interesting.

I haven't spent any time with the specs or converting prices, but does anyone know how much more those are than the fortwo?  (only 2-seaters coming to Canada for now).

Thanks!
=aw
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Mdxtasy

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« Reply #34 on: October 04, 2004, 12:05:39 am »
Hey Awebber....is your girlfriend a car nut or just has opinions on cars?  Not saying anything bad about the better half....just curious as to why she thinks this way.  
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X_ouch

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« Reply #35 on: October 04, 2004, 12:36:39 am »
I don't feel safe for the drivers of this car.

What if this car starts skidding? I can't imagine.
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Offline DriverJeff

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« Reply #36 on: October 06, 2004, 02:47:45 pm »
I thought North America was only getting the 4-passenger smart and not the little roadster thing.  Isn't the car in the showroom of the new Toronto dealership a roadster?  Or is it just the regular car with the roof removed?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/041006-1.htm
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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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« Reply #37 on: October 06, 2004, 04:11:56 pm »
This is the roadster.

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Offline Sir Osis of Liver

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« Reply #38 on: October 06, 2004, 04:13:22 pm »
Oh and only Canada is getting smart this year and it's the obviously named fortwo.
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Offline RayT

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« Reply #39 on: October 06, 2004, 04:45:40 pm »
That roadster looks very "smart" (gag on the pun)
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